Power semiconductor device

ABSTRACT

In the present application, a power semiconductor device includes a first-conductive-type first base region having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposite to the first principal surface, a second-conductive-type second base region disposed on the first principal surface and at least three groove parts parallel to each other disposed from a surface of the second base region. The device further includes insulating films covering inner walls of the respective groove parts, conductive trench gates filled on the insulating films, a first-conductive-type emitter region disposed in the second base region, and a second-conductive-type collector region disposed on the second principal surface of the first base region. The trench gates embedded in the first groove part and the third groove part are electrically connected to the gate electrode, and the trench gate embedded in the second groove part is electrically connected to the emitter electrode.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a power semiconductor device and, more particularly, to a semiconductor device with trench gates such as an IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conduction loss of a power semiconductor device such as an IGBT can be reduced by increasing a density of trench gates formed in a stripe shape on a semiconductor substrate front surface. For example, an IGBT with trench gates (hereinafter referred to as a “trench IGBT”) has an n-type emitter region, a p-type contact region, a p-type base region, an n-type base region, an n-type buffer region, and a p-type collector region formed in order on a semiconductor substrate from a surface toward a back surface thereof. Trench gates are formed into a stripe shape in the substrate front surface and are formed to penetrate the n-type emitter region and the p-type base region adjacently to the n-type emitter region and to reach the n-type base region. The p-type contact region is formed outside the n-type emitter region adjacent to each of the trench gates.

To the trench IGBT, electrons are injected from the n-type emitter region on the front surface side into the p-type base region adjacent to a trench gate. An injection amount of electrons into the p-type base region is controlled by a voltage applied to the trench gate. In particular, while an off-voltage is applied to the trench gate, electrons are not injected from the n-type emitter region on the front surface side into the p-type base region and conduction is turned off. On the other hand, while an on-voltage is applied to the trench gate, electrons are injected from the n-type emitter region on the front surface side into the p-type base region and electrons are consequently injected into the n-type base region. In an on-state, holes are injected from the p-type collector region on the back surface side via the n-buffer region into the n-type base region. Since the electrons are injected from the front surface side and the holes are injected from the back surface side, a conductivity modulation effect occurs, making carrier concentrations of electrons and holes of the n-type base region in the on-state higher by two or more orders of magnitude than an original electron concentration of the n-type base region. As a result, the resistance of the n-type base region becomes extremely low and the conduction loss can be reduced.

In a trench IGBT described in Document 1 (JP 2002-016252 A), the n-type emitter region etc. are not formed in a predetermined region between multiple trench gates formed into a stripe shape so that the trench gates not in contact with the n-type emitter region are provided. These trench gates are called dummy trench gates or inactive trench gates and are connected to an emitter electrode. By using such a structure, the trench IGBT is reduced in gate capacitance (a gate electrode-emitter electrode capacitance and a gate electrode-collector electrode capacitance) while maintaining a conduction loss.

In a trench IGBT described in Document 2 (JP 2005-032941 A), all the dummy trench gates are connected to a gate electrode to reduce a conduction loss while maintaining a gate capacitance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For a further reduction in conduction loss of an IGBT, it is required to make a pitch of stripe-shaped trench gates narrower for higher density or to increase the number of dummy trench gates connected to an emitter electrode for a further reduction in gate capacitance. For higher performance of an IGBT used in an inverter etc., a reduction in loss at the time of a switching operation must be achieved at the same time in addition to the reduction in the conduction loss. A switching loss is made up of two components, which are a turn-on loss when the IGBT is switched from OFF to ON and a turn-off loss when the IGBT is switched from ON to OFF, and the IGBT having a higher density of trench gates and the increased number of dummy trench gates has a problem that although the conduction loss and the turn-off loss can be reduced, the turn-on loss cannot be reduced under a certain condition of a time rate of change in collector voltage.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a power semiconductor device capable of reducing the turn-on loss in addition to reductions in the conduction loss and the turn-off loss even under the certain condition of the time rate of change in collector voltage.

The present invention provides a power semiconductor device controlling a current between an emitter electrode and a collector electrode with a voltage applied to a gate electrode, including:

a first-conductive-type first base region having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposite to the first principal surface;

a second-conductive-type second base region disposed on the first principal surface of the first base region;

at least three groove parts parallel to each other disposed from a surface of the second base region through the second base region to the first base region, the groove parts including a first groove part and a third groove part arranged with a second groove part interposed therebetween; insulating films covering inner walls of the respective groove parts; conductive trench gates filled on the insulating films;

a first-conductive-type emitter region disposed in the second base region between the first groove part and the second groove part to be in contact with the first groove part, the first-conductive-type emitter region being electrically connected to the emitter electrode; and

a second-conductive-type collector region disposed on the second principal surface of the first base region,

the trench gates (active trench gate, active dummy trench gate) embedded in the first groove part and the third groove part being electrically connected to the gate electrode,

the trench gate (isolated dummy trench gate) embedded in the second groove part being electrically connected to the emitter electrode.

According to the present invention, while ON/OFF of a collector current is controlled with a gate potential applied to an active trench gate (6 a), a conductivity modulation effect contributive to the collector current can be enhanced by disposing isolated dummy trench gates (6 b) fixed to an emitter potential with the active trench gate (6 a) interposed therebetween. Additionally, by disposing active dummy trench gates (6 c) fixed to the gate potential such that these trench gates are interposed therebetween, a time rate of change in collector voltage can be made more gradual by a parasitic capacitance between a gate electrode and a collector electrode, and a turn-on loss can be reduced under a certain condition of the time rate of change in collector voltage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a trench IGBT according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a cross-sectional view of a manufacturing step of the trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2b is a top view of the manufacturing step of the trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3a is a cross-sectional view of a manufacturing step of the trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3b is a top view of the manufacturing step of the trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4a is a cross-sectional view of a manufacturing step of the trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4b is a top view of the manufacturing step of the trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6a is a cross-sectional view of a manufacturing step of the other trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6b is a top view of the manufacturing step of the other trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a further trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a trench IGBT according to a comparison example;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of a switching test circuit of a trench IGBT;

FIG. 10a is a diagram of a turn-on characteristic waveform in a switching test of the further trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10b is a diagram of a turn-on characteristic waveform in a switching test of the trench IGBT according to the comparison example;

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a relation between a turn-on loss and a time rate of change in diode voltage of the further trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the trench IGBT according to the comparison example;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a trench IGBT according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a trench IGBT according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a trench IGBT according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of another trench IGBT according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vertical trench IGBT according to a first embodiment of the present invention generally denoted by 20 and a portion surrounded by a dashed line is a unit IGBT. The trench IGBT 20 includes an n-type (first-conductive-type) base region 1 (a first-conductive-type first base region) having a first principal surface (front surface) and a second principal surface (back surface) opposite to the first principal surface. The front surface of the n-type base region 1 on the first principal surface side includes a selectively formed p-type (second-conductive-type) base region 2.

The trench IGBT 20 includes n-type emitter regions 3 (first-conductive-type emitter regions) selectively formed shallower than the p-type base region 2 in a stripe shape in the front surface of the p-type base region 2 on the first principal surface side and p-type contact regions 4 (second-conductive-type first contact regions) formed shallower than the p-type base region 2.

The trench IGBT 20 includes stripe-shaped groove parts reaching from the first principal surface to the n-type base region 1, gate insulating films 5 formed to cover surfaces inside the groove parts, and first trench gates (referred to as “active trench gates”) 6 a formed on the gate insulating films 5 to fill the groove parts. The n-type emitter regions 3 are formed in contact with the groove parts interposed therebetween. The trench IGBT 20 includes an interlayer insulating film 7 on the front surface of the p-type base region 2 on the first principal surface side and includes on the interlayer insulating film 7 an emitter electrode 8 electrically connected to the n-type emitter regions 3 and the p-type contact regions 4.

The trench IGBT 20 also includes stripe-shaped groove parts formed from the first principal surface to the n-type base region 1 on the both sides of each of the first trench gates 6 a interposed therebetween, the gate insulating films 5 formed to cover inner surfaces of the groove parts, and second trench gates (referred to as “isolated dummy trench gates”) 6 b formed on the gate insulating films 5 to fill the groove parts.

The trench IGBT 20 further includes stripe-shaped groove parts formed from the first principal surface to the n-type base region 1 on the outsides of the two second trench gates 6 b disposed on the both sides of each of the first trench gates 6 a and interposed therebetween, the gate insulating films 5 formed to cover surfaces inside the groove parts, and third trench gates (referred to as “active dummy trench gates”) 6 c formed on the gate insulating films 5 to fill the groove parts. Therefore, the trench IGBT 20 includes three types of trench gates, which are the active trench gates 6 a, the isolated dummy trench gates 6 b, and the active dummy trench gates 6 c. The respective types of the trench gates have the following characteristics.

Active trench gates 6 a: The n-type emitter regions 3 are formed along walls on the both sides of each of the trench gates. A drive voltage is applied. The trench gates control electron injection from the n-type emitter regions via the p-type base region to the n-type base region in accordance with the drive voltage.

Active dummy trench gates 6 c: No emitter region is formed along walls on the both sides of each of the trench gates. A drive voltage is applied. The trench gates act as a feedback capacitance element between a gate and a collector.

Isolated dummy trench gates 6 b: The n-type emitter regions 3 may or may not be formed along walls on the both sides of each of the trench gates. The trench gates are connected to the emitter electrode.

The trench IGBT 20 also includes a gate electrode (G) connected to the first trench gates 6 a and the third trench gates 6 c, and the emitter electrode 8 (E) connected to the second trench gates 6 b.

On the other hand, the trench IGBT 20 includes an n-type buffer region 9 (a first-conductive-type buffer region), a p-type collector region 10 (a second-conductive-type collector region), and a collector electrode 11 (C) electrically connected to the p-type collector region 10 formed in order on the second principal surface side of the n-type base region 1.

A method of manufacturing the trench IGBT 20 will be described with reference to FIG. 2a to FIG. 4b . FIGS. 2a, 3a , and 4 a are cross-sectional views of manufacturing steps and correspond to cross sections taken along A-A of plane views shown in FIGS. 2b, 3b , and 4 b.

In the method of manufacturing the trench IGBT 20, first, as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b , an n-type silicon substrate fabricated by an FZ (Floating Zone) method is prepared. Various regions are formed in the silicon substrate in the following steps and a remaining portion without the various regions formed therein acts as the n-type base region 1 that is a drift layer.

Subsequently, photolithography, ion implantation, and heat treatment are performed at a predetermined position of the prepared silicon substrate front surface to form the p-type base region 2 (2 a, 2 b). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2a , the p-type base region 2 is formed on the front surface side of the silicon substrate. The p-type base region 2 has a thickness of about 1 to 4 μm.

Photolithography, ion implantation, and heat treatment are then performed at predetermined positions of the p-type base region 2 to form the n-type emitter regions 3 and the p-type contact regions 4. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2b , the n-type emitter regions 3 are formed at constant intervals (constant pitches, pitch length: p1) into a stripe shape and the p-type contact regions 4 are repeatedly formed adjacently to the n-type emitter regions 3.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b , the groove parts are formed at constant intervals (constant pitches, pitch length: p2) into a stripe shape. Some of the groove parts are formed inside the n-type emitter regions 3 to divide the n-type emitter regions 3. The groove parts are formed to penetrate from the silicon substrate front surface through the p-type base region 2 (and the n-type emitter regions 3) to the n-type base region 1, i.e., to hollow out an upper part of the p-type base region 1. The depth of the groove parts is a constant depth from the silicon substrate front surface and is about 1 to 8 μm, which is deeper than the thickness of the p-type base region 2.

The p-type base regions 2 separated by the groove parts are referred to as p-type base regions 2 a if the n-type emitter region 3 and the p-type contact region 4 are formed therein, and are referred to as p-type base regions 2 b if neither of the regions is formed therein.

The gate insulating films 5 are then formed along the inner walls of the groove parts. Subsequently, an n-type polysilicon is inserted to fill the groove parts provided with the gate insulating films 5, thereby forming trench gates 6. Among the trench gates 6, those formed in the groove parts sectionalizing the n-type emitter regions 3 are defined as first trench gates 6 a and referred to as the active trench gates. Those formed in the groove parts on the both sides of each of the first trench gates 6 interposed therebetween are defined as second trench gates 6 b and referred to as the isolated dummy trench gates. Those formed in the groove parts on the sides opposite to the first trench gates 6 a across the second trench gates 6 b are defined as third trench gates 6 c and referred to as active dummy trench gates. In other words, the isolated dummy trench gates 6 b are arranged on the both sides of each of the active trench gates 6 a, and the active dummy trench gates 6 c are arranged on the outer side thereof.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b , the interlayer insulating film 7 is formed to cover the silicon substrate front surface in which the first, second, and third trench gates 6 a, 6 b, 6 c etc. are formed. The interlayer insulating film 7 is made of a silicon oxide film, for example. Opening regions 7 a are formed in the interlayer insulating film 7 such that the n-type emitter regions 3 and the p-type contact regions 4 are at least partially exposed.

The emitter electrode 8 is formed on the interlayer insulating film 7 to be electrically connected to the n-type emitter regions 3 and the p-type contact regions 4.

The n-type buffer region 9 is then formed on the second principal surface (back surface) of the n-type base region 1 (the silicon substrate) and the p-type collector region 10 is formed thereon. Subsequently, the collector electrode 11 is formed on the p-type collector region 10 to be electrically connected to the p-type collector region 10.

The trench IGBT 20 shown in FIG. 1 is completed by the manufacturing steps described above.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view (modification example 1) of another vertical trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention generally denoted by 21 and a portion surrounded by a dashed line is a unit IGBT. FIGS. 6a and 6b are a cross-sectional view and a top view of a manufacturing step and FIG. 6a corresponds to a cross section taken along B-B of FIG. 6b . In FIGS. 5, 6 a, and 6 b, the same reference numerals as FIG. 1 denote the same or corresponding portions. FIG. 5 corresponds to a cross section taken along B-B of FIG. 6 b.

As apparent from comparison between FIGS. 3a and 3b with FIGS. 6a and 6b , the trench IGBT 21 is different from the trench IGBT 20 in arrangement (shape) of the n-type emitter regions 3 and the P-type contact regions 4. In particular, in FIG. 3b , the n-type emitter regions 3 and the p-type contact regions 4 are formed inside the p-type base regions 2 a in parallel with the first trench gates 6 a, while in FIG. 6b , the n-type emitter regions 3 ad the p-type emitter regions 4 are alternately repeatedly formed inside the p-type base region 2 a in a direction along the first trench gate 6 a. The other configurations are the same as the IGBT 20.

Since the trench IGBT 21 has the n-type emitter regions 3 and the p-type emitter regions 4 alternately arranged, even when some misalignment occurs in the step of forming the contact opening regions 7 a in the interlayer insulating film 7 shown in FIG. 4a , both the n-type emitter regions 3 and the p-type emitter regions 4 can be opened and a process margin can be increased.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view (modification example 2) of a further vertical trench IGBT according to the first embodiment of the present invention generally denoted by 22 a and a portion surrounded by a dashed line is a unit IGBT. In FIG. 7, the same reference numerals as FIG. 1 denote the same or corresponding portions.

As apparent from comparison between FIG. 7 with FIG. 1, the trench IGBT 22 a is different from the trench IGBT 20 in arrangement of the active dummy trench gates 6 c. In particular, while the trench IGBT 20 has the one active dummy trench gate 6 c disposed and interposed between the two isolated dummy trench gates 6 b, the trench IGBT 22 a of FIG. 7 has the two active dummy trench gates 6 c disposed and interposed between the two isolated dummy trench gates 6 b.

The action and effect of the trench IGBT 22 a will be described in comparison with a comparison example shown in FIG. 8. The trench IGBT 22 a and the IGBT 20 have the same configuration except the number of the active dummy trench gates and therefore have substantially the same action and effect.

In a trench IGBT 22 b of the comparison example shown in FIG. 8, the active dummy trench gates 6 c included in the trench IGBT 22 a shown in FIG. 7 are not formed and the typical dummy trench gates 6 b are formed instead. Therefore, the trench IGBT 22 b has a structure in which the four dummy trench gates 6 b are interposed between the two trench gates 6 a.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of a half-bridge evaluation circuit for power conversion used for evaluating the trench IGBT 22 a according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the trench IGBT 22 b according to the comparison example. As shown in FIG. 9, the half-bridge evaluation circuit has the external resistor Rg and a gate-application pulse power source (V1) connected to a gate electrode (G) of an IGBT. A parasitic inductance (Ls), a load inductance (Lm), and a DC power source (V2) are connected to a collector electrode (C) of the IGBT. A free wheel diode (Diode) for reflux is connected in parallel with the load inductance.

The half-bridge evaluation circuit of FIG. 9 uses, for example, the voltage value V1 of 15 V/0 V for the power source for applying a gate voltage, the parasitic inductance Ls of 50 pH, the load inductance Lm of 200 pH, the voltage value of 600 V for a DC power source, and the external resistor Rg made variable. The IGBT has a rated current of 150 A and a rated voltage of 1200 V.

FIGS. 10a and 10b show device simulation results of switching tests using the half-bridge evaluation circuit of FIG. 9 at the test temperature set to 125° C.

FIG. 10a shows waveforms of collector voltage and collector current when the trench IGBT 22 a according to the first embodiment of the present invention is turned on and FIG. 10b shows waveforms of voltage and current when the trench IGBT 22 b of the comparison example is turned on. In FIGS. 10a and 10b , solid lines indicate the collector voltages and dashed lines indicate the collector currents. In FIGS. 10a and 10b , the variable external resistor Rg is adjusted such that time rates of change in voltage (dV/dt) have the maximum values at the same level in the collector voltage waveforms. Therefore, it is apparent that the external resistor Rg applied to the IGBT 22 a according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a value lower than that applied to the IGBT 22 b of the comparison example and results in a faster turn-on operation.

FIG. 11 shows a relation between the turn-on loss of the IGBTs acquired from the relation of voltage and current waveforms of FIGS. 10a and 10b and the maximum value of a time rate of change in voltage of the free wheel diode (Diode). The horizontal axis of FIG. 11 indicates the turn-on loss of the IGBTs at the collector current of 150 A calculated by using the external resistor Rg shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 9 as a parameter. On the other hand, the vertical axis indicates the time rate of change in voltage on the diode side at the collector current of 1.5 A (one hundredth of the collector current value described above) calculated with the external resistance value thereof.

From FIG. 11, it can be seen that the turn-on loss of the trench IGBT 22 a is about a half of that of the trench IGBT 22 b of the comparison example under the condition that the time rate of change of the diode is 20000 V/μs (indicated by a dashed line of FIG. 11). Therefore, the turn-on loss is made smaller by using the trench IGBT 22 a according to the first embodiment. This is attributable to a feedback capacitance between the gate electrode (G) connected to the active dummy trench gates 6 c and the collector electrode (C) made larger by disposing the active dummy trench gates 6 c as compared to the trench IGBT 11 b according to the comparison example.

As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, since the isolated dummy trench gates 6 b connected to the emitter electrode are arranged such that the first trench gates 6 a connected to the gate electrode providing control of ON/OFF of the collector current are each interposed therebetween, and the active dummy trench gates 6 c connected to the gate electrode are arranged such that the isolated dummy trench gates 6 b are interposed therebetween, the feedback capacitance between the gate electrode and the collector electrode can be made larger as compared to conventional trench IGBTs. As a result, the turn-on loss of the IGBT can be reduced while suppressing the time rate of change in voltage of a diode for reflux at the time of turn-on operation of the IGBT.

Since the isolated dummy trench gates 6 b connected to the emitter electrode are arranged between the active trench gates 6 a connected to the gate electrode and the active dummy trench gates 6 c, mutual interference is suppressed between the active trench gates 6 a and the active dummy trench gates 6 c and stable switching and load short-circuit operations are acquired.

Although the one isolated dummy trench gate 6 b is disposed between the active trench gate 6 a and the active dummy trench gate 6 c in FIGS. 1, 5, and 7, the two or more isolated dummy trench gates 6 b may be disposed.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a trench IGBT according to a second embodiment of the present invention generally denoted by 23 and a portion surrounded by a dashed line is a unit IGBT. In FIG. 12, the same reference numerals as FIG. 1 denote the same or corresponding portions.

The trench IGBT 23 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a structure having the p-type contact region 4 disposed in the p-type base region 2 b interposed between the two active dummy trench gates 6 c in the trench IGBT 22 a (see FIG. 7) according to the modification example of the first embodiment. An opening region 7 c is formed in the interlayer insulating film 7 such that the p-type contact region 4 is partially exposed, and the p-type contact region 4 is connected to the emitter electrode 8.

Since only the p-type base region 2 b interposed between the two active dummy trench gates 6 c is provided with the p-type contact region 4 as described above, although a portion of the feedback capacitance between the gate electrode (G) connected to the active dummy trench gates 6 c and the collector electrode (C) is repriced by a capacitance between the gate electrode (G) and the emitter electrode (E), the feedback capacitance is larger than the conventional trench IGBTs and, therefore, the turn-on loss of the IGBT can be reduced while suppressing the time rate of change in voltage of a diode for reflux at the time of turn-on operation of the IGBT.

Since the p-type base region 2 b interposed between the two active dummy trench gates 6 c is provided with the p-type contact region 4 connected to the emitter electrode 8, holes can efficiently be discharged out of carriers including electrons and holes, which enables a stable operation particularly at the time of a load short circuit.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a trench IGBT according to a third embodiment of the present invention generally denoted by 24 and a portion surrounded by a dashed line is a unit IGBT. In FIG. 13, the same reference numerals as FIG. 1 denote the same or corresponding portions.

The trench IGBT 24 according to the third embodiment of the present invention has a structure having a distance between the isolated dummy trench gate 6 b and the active dummy trench gate 6 c made narrower as compared to a distance between the active trench gate 6 a and the isolated dummy trench gate 6 b in the trench IGBT 20 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment. Therefore, since it is not necessary to dispose a contact region in the p-type base region between the isolated dummy trench 6 b and the active dummy trench gate 6 c, the distance between the isolated dummy trench gate 6 b and the active dummy trench gate 6 c can be reduced to a minimum design rule of a semiconductor process.

In the trench IGBT 24 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, since the feedback capacitance between the gate electrode (G) connected to the active dummy trench gates 6 c and the collector electrode (C) is the same as the trench IGBT 20 according to first embodiment, the turn-on loss of the IGBT can be reduced while suppressing the time rate of change in voltage of a diode for reflux at the time of turn-on operation of the IGBT.

Additionally, since the distance between the isolated dummy trench gate 6 b and the active dummy trench gate 6 c is made narrower as compared to the distance between the active trench gate 6 a and the isolated dummy trench gate 6 b, a proportion of the active trench gate 6 a per unit area can be made larger and the collector current can be increased as compared to the collector current of the trench IGBT 20 according to the first embodiment.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a trench IGBT according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention generally denoted by 25 and a portion surrounded by a dashed line is a unit IGBT. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of another trench IGBT according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention generally denoted by 26 and a portion surrounded by a dashed line is a unit IGBT. In FIGS. 14 and 15, the same reference numerals as FIG. 1 denote the same or corresponding portions.

The trench IGBT 25 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has a structure having the p-type base region 2 c disposed to be in contact only with the groove part in which the isolated dummy trench gate 6 b is formed instead of the p-type base region 2 b interposed between the isolated dummy trench gate 6 b and the active dummy trench gate 6 c in the trench IGBT 20 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment.

Since the p-type base region 2 c is disposed to be in contact only with the groove part in which the isolated dummy trench gate 6 b is formed ad described above, the feedback capacitance between the gate electrode (G) connected to the active dummy trench gates 6 c and the collector electrode (C) can be increased as compared to the trench IGBT 20 and the turn-on loss of the IGBT can be reduced while suppressing the time rate of change in voltage of a diode for reflux at the time of turn-on operation of the IGBT.

As shown in FIG. 15, the other trench IGBT 26 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention has a structure without the p-type base region 2 b disposed in the region interposed between the isolated dummy trench gate 6 b and the active dummy trench gate 6 c in the trench IGBT 20 (see FIG. 1).

Since the p-type base region 2 b is not disposed as described above, the feedback capacitance between the active dummy trench gate 6 c and the n-type base region 1 can be increased and the turn-on loss of the IGBT can be reduced while suppressing the time rate of change in voltage of a diode for reflux at the time of turn-on operation of the IGBT.

Although the one isolated dummy trench gate 6 b is disposed between the active trench gate 6 a and the active dummy trench gate 6 c in FIGS. 14 and 15, the two or more isolated dummy trench gates 6 b may be disposed. As is the case with FIG. 7, the two or more active dummy trench gates 6 c may be disposed between the two isolated dummy trench gates 6 b. As is the case with FIG. 5, the n-type emitter regions 3 and the p-type emitter regions 4 may alternately repeatedly be arranged inside the p-type base region 2 a in a direction along the first trench gate 6 a.

Although the first conductive type is the n-type and the second conductive type is the p-type in the description of the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention, the first conductive type may be the p-type and the second conductive type may be the n-type. The trench IGBT made of a silicon semiconductor is taken as an example in the description, the trench IGBTs may be made of a silicon carbide semiconductor. 

1. A power semiconductor device controlling a current between an emitter electrode and a collector electrode with a voltage applied to a gate electrode, the device comprising: a first-conductive-type first base region having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposite to the first principal surface; a second-conductive-type second base region disposed on the first principal surface of the first base region; at least three groove parts parallel to each other disposed from a surface of the second base region through the second base region to the first base region, the groove parts including a first groove part and a third groove part arranged with a second groove part interposed therebetween; insulating films covering inner walls of the respective groove parts; conductive trench gates filled on the insulating films; a first-conductive-type emitter region disposed in the second base region between the first groove part and the second groove part to be in contact with the first groove part, the first-conductive-type emitter region being electrically connected to the emitter electrode; and a second-conductive-type collector region disposed on the second principal surface of the first base region, wherein the first-conductive-type emitter region is not formed in the second base region between the second groove part and the third groove part, wherein the trench gates embedded in the first groove part and the third groove part are electrically connected to the gate electrode, and wherein the trench gate embedded in the second groove part is electrically connected to the emitter electrode.
 2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one or more second groove parts are disposed on each of both sides of the third groove part, and wherein the first groove part is disposed on each side opposite to the third groove part across the second groove parts.
 3. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the two third groove parts are adjacently disposed, wherein the one or more second groove parts are disposed on each side such that the two third groove parts are interposed therebetween, wherein the first-conductive-type emitter region is not formed in the second base region between the two third groove parts, and wherein the first groove part is disposed on each side opposite to the third groove parts across the second groove parts.
 4. The semiconductor device according to claim 3, wherein the second-conductive-type contact region electrically connected to the emitter electrode is disposed in the second base region interposed between the two third groove parts.
 5. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the emitter layers and the second-conductive-type contact regions are alternately disposed in the second base region interposed between the first groove part and the second groove part in a direction along a longitudinal direction of the first groove part.
 6. A power semiconductor device controlling a current between an emitter electrode and a collector electrode with a voltage applied to a gate electrode, the device comprising: a first-conductive-type first base region having a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposite to the first principal surface; a second-conductive-type second base region disposed in a certain region of the first principal surface of the first base region; at least three groove parts parallel to each other disposed in the first base region, the groove parts including a first groove part and a third groove part arranged with a second groove part interposed therebetween; insulating films covering inner walls of the respective groove parts; and conductive trench gates filled on the insulating films, wherein the first groove part or the first and second groove parts is disposed from a surface of the second base region through the second base region to the first base region, and wherein the third groove part is disposed in the first base region, the semiconductor device further comprising: a first-conductive-type emitter region disposed in the second base region between the first groove part and the second groove part to be in contact with the first groove part, the first-conductive-type emitter region being electrically connected to the emitter electrode; and a second-conductive-type collector region disposed on the second principal surface of the first base region, wherein the trench gates embedded in the first groove part and the third groove part are electrically connected to the gate electrode, and wherein the trench gate embedded in the second groove part is electrically connected to the emitter electrode.
 7. The semiconductor device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one or more second groove parts are disposed on each of both sides of the third groove part, and wherein the first groove part is disposed on each side opposite to the third groove part across the second groove parts.
 8. The semiconductor device according to claim 6, wherein the two third groove parts are adjacently disposed, wherein the one or more second groove parts are disposed on each side such that the two third groove parts are interposed therein, and wherein the first groove part is disposed on each side opposite to the third groove parts across the second groove parts.
 9. The semiconductor device according to claim 6, wherein the emitter layers and the second-conductive-type contact regions are alternately disposed in the second base region interposed between the first groove part and the second groove part in a direction along a longitudinal direction of the first groove part. 10-11. (canceled) 